World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont has said it is a ‘distinct possibility’ the 2020 international rugby calendar could be scrapped because of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Thursday, World Rugby representatives stated that plans were underway to investigate a variety of return-to-rugby plans, including the delivery of a viable 2020 international competition calendar subject to the relevant government and health authority advice.

READ: World Rugby announces 2020 calendar progress

However, due to the the current global uncertainty and travel bans as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Beaumont also conceded it may not be possible to hold any more fixtures this year.

‘That is a distinct possibility. The pressures on the unions are getting greater and greater,’ he told The Times UK.

Beaumont is standing for re-election as chairman of World Rugby but next month’s elections will see him go up against Argentina’s Agustin Pichot.